Ala Carte Bevs

[PHX-F/A]

Anyone hear a rumor that Ala Carte is ending in March? Something about the credit card machines being vandalized and the huge expence of replacement

 

[aredeeyou22]

Anyone hear a rumor that Ala Carte is ending in March? Something about the credit card machines being vandalized and the huge expence of replacement

Dream on.... Just look at the numbers Continental reported for January: I expect more will be joining us in the a la Carte drama shortly...

 

[nic4us]

Piney,

That is a great Idea, solves many problems all at once.

 

[Dont call me Shirley]

With good IT the could even have the customers name on the product and the F/A's could just deliver the meal packages

"with good IT". Piney, you are one very funny guy indeed! 🙄

 

[nycbusdriver]

Just an idea. If you're going to sell on board then why not go all in and market the bejesus out of it.

Great idea! I can't possibly even imagine the nightmare of biblical proportions that this would cause. We got a small glimpse of it in the heyday of free meal service where passengers could "pre book" a special dietary meal. Often the special meals weren't there, or the meals were there and the passenger no-showed, or the meals were on the wrong airplane, etc.

Can you imagine the fallout if someone paid in advance and it got screwed up somewhere in the process?

"My son, the docta', ordered me a Coast to Coast on the computa' layst night. What do you mean it isn't heah? What's your name, dearie. I'm going to have my son, the lawya', sue you and this airline for not giving me my Coast to Coast which my son, the docta', ordered for me and paid for already."

(And that's the best case scenario.)

 

[hp_fa]

There is probably a legal problem somewhere in the idea as far as selling coupons good for an alcoholic drink (Like selling to minors, selling in contravention of state laws, not collecting sales tax or something else) but the rest of it I fully support. However, that said, what happens if you buy something and don't get it, there is a plane change at the gate where they don't want to swap catering, etc.? I can see issues if, for example, a diabetic person places an order, relies upon that food being onboard, and for whatever reason the food does not get onboard. That could be a huge can-of-worms.

p.s. - NYCBusdriver and I posted at the same time.......

 

[NCFL]

"My son, the docta', ordered me a Coast to Coast on the computa' layst night. What do you mean it isn't heah? What's your name, dearie. I'm going to have my son, the lawya', sue you and this airline for not giving me my Coast to Coast which my son, the docta', ordered for me and paid for already."

Right on, NYC...

And don't forget the inevitable "uuhch...I am neva' flyin' this gawd-awful airline again. Youz have completely ruint my entiah vacation. I deeMAND a refund. Do youz heah me? My son, the lawya', will get it auwl back fa' me. This is unconscionable. I need some wata, to take a pill, that was prescribed fa' my noives by my son, the docta'. Youz have gotten me so upset."

(And all of it shouted in a voice that would shatter the cockpit windows a la Estelle Constanza).

 

[UPNAWAY]

Piney they have metioned (last qtry townhall) the Air Canada model as one they would like to head towards with being able to do most if not all online but that will take new technolgies and time. An you would buy tiered tickets. Nothinng etxra ticket and the all inclusive ticket etc.

 

[SolidCactus]

Could do what they used to do on some of the old cruise lines... Sell a sticker for your dividend miles card for unlimited soda, $20 a year... you just show your card and get a free soda.

 

[ClueByFour]

There is probably a legal problem somewhere in the idea as far as selling coupons good for an alcoholic drink (Like selling to minors, selling in contravention of state laws, not collecting sales tax or something else) but the rest of it I fully support.

Dunno about selling drink coupons, but Southwest gives them away. Technically, they also "sell" them if you buy a business select fare.

 

[cactusflyer]

I hear the non-alcoholic beverage sales are going away too. Just BOB and alcohol. That is fine by me!

 

[az_wild727]

If they continue with the A La Carte program I'd like to see the following implemented.

Start selling the items in a "Bundle" that can only be purchased on line. Offer a discount over buying on board.

The pre-paid bundles could be creatively named. For instance

Short Haul - I beverage and the snack pack sell it for $4.00 non alcohol and $8.00 with booze available on any US M/L over an hour flight time.

Mid Lands Meal - Sandwich and either cocktail or soft drink. Flights over 2 hours including PHL to ORD which is slightly less.

The Coast to Coast - 3 beverages, Meal & Snack box

If you do this on line only you'll be able to better plan catering. You could go so far as to only offer food in this manner on the shorter flights. With good IT the could even have the customers name on the product and the F/A's could just deliver the meal packages

This should result in higher sales and the added benefit is US gets an interest free loan for however many days in advance the customer purchases the product.

Just an idea. If you're going to sell on board then why not go all in and market the bejesus out of it.

Very neat idea though AC has been doing something similar for years now.

Couple of thoughts however.

- Would cost extra to cater every station with this stuff.

- With people standing by all the time for different flights and airport rebookings would mean food loaded onto original flights with pax on new flights. Hungry pax still wants to use his/her voucher/certificate for the food that is on a different flight.

ORD-PHL is quite short while I've had PHL-ORD take upto 2h45 minutes at times. You sorted it in the right category.

-Kinglobjaw

 

[hp_fa]

Dunno about selling drink coupons, but Southwest gives them away. Technically, they also "sell" them if you buy a business select fare.

Giving and selling are likely considered two different things except, of course, for serving minors. I understand what you are trying to say, but the flip side would mean that US Airways used to sell sodas and food, it was just included in the fare.

 

[aredeeyou22]

I hear the non-alcoholic beverage sales are going away too. Just BOB and alcohol. That is fine by me!

Hope this is true. I just don't see it happening with the way demand is falling so drastically. We shall see!

 

[SS255]

Anyone hear a rumor that Ala Carte is ending in March? Something about the credit card machines being vandalized and the huge expence of replacement

Blame the credit card machines, not the flawed concept. 🙄

I really wish that US would just man up and admit that they were wrong. There is nothing wrong with trying something for a short period, seeing if it sticks, and admitting failure if it does not.

They should have backed down when no other airlines followed suit. How many bookings did they lose in the interim?